Cocoa museum opens in Trinidad and Tobago
A
National Cocoa and Chocolate Museum and Heritage Complex was opened in May 2018 in Moruga, Trinidad, much to the delight of several hundred interested persons who attended the event. Founded by the Merikin “Prince of Moruga”, Eric Lewis, the museum seeks to showcase and preserve the rich cocoa and coffee history of the Ancient Historic Cocoa House of Moruga, located on Rock River Hill. The Merikins were African-American Marines of the War of 1812 – former African slaves who fought for the British against the USA in the Corps of Colonial Marines and then, after post-war service in Bermuda, were established as a community in the south of Trinidad and Tobago in 1815–16. They settled in an area populated by French-speaking Catholics and retained cohesion as an English-speaking, Baptist community. Lewis says he believes it is important for Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and history to be preserved. “It is a huge historical area, we have the barracks, the horse stables, a water cistern from 100 years ago, the cocoa and coffee factory, the manager’s quarters,” Lewis said.
10
| July 2018 - The Hummingbird
“There is both built and natural heritage- we have a mud volcano, pitch pools, volcanic cones, a sulfur spring and a well from over a 100 years ago all on this same property.” Lewis said there are many artefacts on the property, which add to its historical value. “We have archival documents from the Cocoa Board, hundreds of books of cocoa history and cocoa abstracts around the country. We also have artefacts dating back to the 1800’s and a horse saddle collection, the plantation collection, the servant’s collection, the master’s collection and maps and cadastral from then coming straight forward.” He said the property belongs to him but he does not intend to keep it private. “I want to establish this as a national space, I really think our country should get involved in preserving the other heritage sites and I am trying to keep this as original as possible to maintain its authenticity but doing the necessary upgrades to ensure it is preserved.” Lewis said interest in the site has been building since he began preparing it in January and he is excited to showcase the treasures displayed in the museum.
ECLAC and UNICEF joint SDG Indicators Workshop
T
he production of reliable statistical data is a challenge in many countries across the world – and the Caribbean, unfortunately, is no exception. Yet, the importance of this data cannot be overstated, if we are to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Simply put, how can we foster development to the point of achieving the SDGs, if we have no benchmark against which to measure success? For example, how can we establish that people across the Caribbean have access to affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) or to clean water and sanitation (Goal 6) if we have no data? It is in light of this challenge that ECLAC Caribbean, as part of its ongoing work to support the statistical capacity of member States, recently joined forces with UNICEF in the organization of a workshop on `Monitoring Social SDG Indicators in the Caribbean’.